U.P. Notable with Carol Schultz and the Story of Journey the Great Horned Owl
UP Notable Book Club: The Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 51st event features Carol Schultz, the author of several beautifully illustrated children’s books about animals, both fiction and non-fiction. The Story of Journey: The Great Horned Owl follows the amazing true-life story of how a little Great Horned Owl was rescued and became a beacon of learning and conservation for a whole generation of children in Upper Michigan. Special guest Phyllis Carlson, the wildlife rehabilitator who worked with Journey for two decades, will provide additional background.
When: Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 7 pm Eastern / 6 pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance at egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase them from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
CAROL L. SCHULTZ grew up in the beautiful Upper Peninsula, where she was the middle of 6 children in her family. In a neighborhood full of kids, there was always someone to spend time with outdoors. After marrying, raising children, and working outside of the home, she retired and found the time to write and paint (almost) as much as she would like to. She is a self-taught artist and author of children’s books. Her nature-inspired children’s books gave her the outlet to write and illustrate the wonderful area in which we live. The beauty of the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin, with its abundant wildlife, wooded areas, and multiple lakes and rivers, has always been an inspiration for her work. Winter is her time of year to create my artwork, with the summers spent outdoors as much as possible. It is her fondest hope that readers will enjoy her work and that it will inspire them to create their own.
“The Story of Journey, an informative picture book is great for the older end of the picture book range. It is great for kids who can listen to a little more detailed text and older elementary children who are already reading. The author did her research well and had input from an actual wildlife rehabilitator, which adds to the authority in the message. This reviewer was intrigued by the fact that baby owls roam the branches of the tree in which their nest is before they learn to fly. Relating this to a time frame—the fact that they are “branchers” in June and fly in July—helps readers understand how much longer owl parents work than some other types of birds.
The illustrations are also well researched for accuracy, adding as much to the information as the text. This reviewer especially liked the illustration of a rehabilitator’s gloved hand, and the straps used to secure a young owl while it is being held by a human. The pages about owl facts after Journey’s story were equally informative. Detailed illustrations and descriptions of an owl’s wings, talons, and hearing add much to any reader’s knowledge. Knowing hat owls can hear a mouse under the snow up to one-half mile away made this reviewer (who wears hearing aids) green with envy. We wish this author much luck and encourage schools, libraries, and parents to search for copies.”
— Deborah K. Frontiera, for UP Book Review
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com